Window for trailers



Aug. 12, 1941.

w. A. HARRIS WINDOW FOR TRAILERS Filed May 15, 1959 2 Shets-Sheet l .6M. a a A. w

Aug. 12, 1941. w. A. HARRIS WINDOW FOR TRAILERS Filed May 15, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 LA. Harris Gite M4013 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 .IUNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW FOR TRAILERS Walter A. Harris, Elkhart, Ind.Application May 15, 1939, Serial No. 273,774

3 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel combined window andscreen for'trailers; to provide a novel and improved metal frame forsuch a window; to provide a hinged mounting for the window; to providemeans for holding the window in any of several different positions; toprovide means whereby the screen may be entirely removed from thegarnish frame if desired. It is also an object to provide novel meansfor making the window water and leakproof and to provide various noveldetails of construction.

I attain the objects of my invention by the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of theentire device with the window in partly open position;

Fig.2 is a plan view of the window arranged in vertical positionrelative to the body of the trailer;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the window arranged in horizontal positionrelative to the body of the trailer;

Fig. 4 is a modification illustrated in vertical section through thewindow;

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the shape ofthe rubber protecting strip before it is compressed;

Fig. 6 is a detail section of a portion of the screen on line 66 of Fig.1;

Fig. '7 is a detail section of the garnish frame on line of Fig. 1.

Fig. Bis a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing the relation of thegarnish frame and screen in a modified form in which the screen isplaced between the garnish frame and the storm frame;

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the blank showing the form of the blankat the bottom corners which are rounded, and the manner of folding theblank to form said rounded corners; and- Fig. 10 is a detail. plan viewof the portion of the corners of the blank showing the shape of theblank at the top where the frame has square corners.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in each of the severalviews.

My device has as its principal elements a window frame I, storm frame 2,garnish frame 3, and screen 4, as shown in Fig. 1. The window frame isformed from a blank having a face 5 shaped as shown in Fig. 2. The blankfrom which this face 5 is formed is shaped at its lower corners, asshown in Fig. 9, with a rounded corner 6 and with foldable intermediatestrips 1 and la foldable along the lines 8 and 8a; and integral withstrips 1 and la are the outer foldable strips 9 and 9a which arefoldable along the lines l0 and Illa respectively. The intermediatestrips 1 and la terminate in partially rounded partially angular ends H,and the outer strip 9 terminates in the beveled end I2 while the outerstrip 9a terminates in the squared end i3, as shown in Fig. 9 to formthe lower rounded corner. The upper corner of the blank is shaped asshown in Fig. 10 to provide square corners; the intermediate strips Ia.and lb being foldable along the lines 8a and 8b respectively and theouter strips 90 and 9b being foldable along the lines Illa and illbrespectively to provide a square corner.

The corners of the blank from which the window frame I is formed orpunched out is the shape shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the two lower cornersbeing shaped in accordance with Fig. 9 and the two upper corners beingshaped inaccordance with Fig. 10. The portions or sections 1 and 9 andla and ligand lb and 91) respectively are formed or pressed to form awindow frame of the shape shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 9 with members laand lb lying parallel with the face 5 of the blank and the strips 9 and9a and 9b being disposed at right angles to the face of the blank.

A pane of glass l5 shaped similar to the opening in the frame I andpreferably having rounded corners, has its edges engaging a moldedrubber welt I4 which projects over the edge of face 5.

The angle iron inner window frame member l6 (which may consist of fourmetal strips welded together at the ends or corners) engages'the spongerubber weather strip Ila behind the glass pane I 5 to hold the rubbertightly against the glass pane and in contact with the molded rubberstrip M, as shown in Fig. 4 tosupport the glass pane and provide awater-tight closure. The other face of the angle iron inner window framemember "5 rests against the portions 9, 9a and 9b of the window frameand has a flange I1 bent into U-shape to engage members 9, 9a. and 9b ofthe window frame, as shown in Fig. 4. A suitable number of screws i8a,or spot welding, secure the window frame members together.

The molded rubber welt I4 is cemented to the window light opening beforethe insertion of the glass pane I 5, which is also cemented to thisrubber. After the glass is placed in position, the sponge rubber weatherstripping Ma. is placed around all four sides of the glass, abuttingagainst the window frame member as described.

A longitudinal central bar l9, U-shaped in cross section extendslongitudinally of the center portion of the window frame and has itsopposite outturned ends 20 at each end of the bar secured to the windowframe by suitable means, such as bolts 2|, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

At one end of the window frame I provide an end hinge strip 22 which isintegral with the face 5 of the window frame. Hinge strip 22 has frameextension or flange and to the trailer body; 24, as shown in Fig. 4. Thestorm frame 2 has an end flange or extension 25 to which the outer hingestrip 23 is welded. As shown in Fig. 1, the inner hinge strip 22 is notconcentric with the outer curved hinge strip 23 and the free edge oftheinner hinge strip 22 is continuously in engagement with the innersurface of the outer curved strip 23, even when the window is swung to awide open position. Thus, the hinge elements are prevented from becomingdisengaged from each other when the window is swung to an open position.

The rubber weather strip 21 is folded into U-shape and engages aroundthe edge of the outturned flange 28 of the storm frame, the rubber thusbeing interposed between member 23 of the storm frame and members 10.and 1b of the window frame and between flange 28 and the body 24 of thetrailer. The rubber strip 21 has an enlarged edge portion 21a, as shownin Fig. 5, which element, however, is compressed when the window isassembled. The storm frame has an in-.

turned flange 26, as shown in Fig. 4.

The garnish frame 3 comprises acentral or body portion 29 with anoutturned flange 30 and an inturned flange 3|. A screen 4 is mounted inthe frame 32 and seats in the garnish frame 3, resting against theinturned flange 3| of said frame, or it may be mounted on the other sideof flange 3!, as in the modification shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

In order that the window may be adjustably secured in an open position,I provide a latch bar 33 pivotally connected by pivot 34 to the centralbar 19 of the window frame and having a series of spaced notches 35 andan operating knob 36. It extends through the slot 39 in the screen andin the central bar 31 which extends longitudinally of the storm framealong its central portion and which is of U-shape in cross sections butof sumcient width to telescope over the U-shaped bar IQ of the windowframe and thus center the window frame. Bar 31 has extended ends 38, asshown in Fig. 4, which are welded to opposite portions of the inturnedflange 26 of the storm frame.

Lock bar 40 is aflixed by screws 43 to the central bar 31 of the stormframe. Lock bar 40 has a slot 42 aligned with the corresponding slot 39in the screen and in bar 31 for free movement of latch bar 33. Lock bar40 also has an outturned hook end 4i with which the latch bar may bereleasably engaged.

The garnish frame may, if desired, be detachably secured to the stormframe by suitable bolts 44. The garnish frame is secured to the insidewall of the body of the trailer by screws or bolts 44.

In operation, the window frame I may be swung outwardly by pushing onknob 36 of latch bar 33, and may be secured in the desired adj weatherstrip 21 engaging around the flange 28 of the storm frame makes awater-tight closure and also reduces the danger of breaking the glasspane. Screen 4 seats on either side desired of the garnish frame 3 andif desired, may be taken out entirely by removing the slotted lock bar4| and then removing the screen, either by detaching knob 36 from latchbar 33 or detaching latch bar 33 by withdrawing its pivot screw 34 andthereafter replacing these elements with the screen removed. The endextension 25 of the storm frame and the outer hinge member 23 aresecured exteriorly of the body of the trailer, while the garnish frame 3is secured to the interior of the body of the trailer by the screws orbolts 44.

The lower corners 6 of the window are rounded in order to avoidaccidents to people bumping their heads on the open window, theserounded corners being formed on the window frame, as shown in Fig. 9 ofthe drawings.

The screen 4 is secured in its frame 32 by pressing the frame togetheron the screen and spot welding it. The lock bar 40 of the latch isfastened through the screen by screws 43 to the storm frame. The screenmay be used either on the outside of the garnish frame, as shown in Fig.1, or between the garnish frame and storm frame, as shown in Fig. 8.

The outer edges on both sides of the bottom of the window frame areturned down or beveled to insure proper weather seal. The corners of thewindow (concealed by angle-iron member II) are overlapped and spotwelded for greater rigidity in this part of the window as a whole.

What I claim is:

1. A frame for trailer windows, comprising a frame having a preferablyrectangular window opening rounded at the corners, and having integralintermediate strips folded over to a position substantially parallelwith the face of the frame, and having right angle strips folded to aposition at'right angles to the face of the frame, a glass pane, shockabsorbent weather stripping for same, a shock absorbent strip seatingagainst the inner face of the glass pane, a metal strip seating againstthe said shock absorbent strip, a strip engaging the right angle stripsof the face of the frame, and means securing said members together.

2. A frame for windows, comprising a frame having a window opening, andhaving integral intermediate strips folded over to a position parallelwith the face of the frame and having right angle strips integral withthe aforesaid intermediate strips and folded to a position at rightangles to the face of the frame, a glass pane, molded rubber weatherstripping for same, a sponge rubber strip seating against the inner faceof the glass pane, a metal strip seating against the said sponge rubberstrip and having a flange bent into U-shape to engage the right anglestrips of the face of the frame, and means securing said memberstogether, substantially as described.

3. A frame for windows, comprising a frame having a window opening, andhaving integral intermediate strips folded over to a position parallelwith the face of the frame and having right angle strips integral withthe aforesaid intermediate strips and folded to a position at rightangles to the face of the frame, a glass pane, a sponge rubber stripseating against the inner face of the glass pane, a metal strip seatingagainst the said sponge rubber strip, and means securing said strip tothe strip forming the window frame.

WALTER A. HARRIS.

